Thanks to the test knitters!

I know I shouldn't be surprised by how helpful and great knitters are, but I was thrilled with the quick response to my call for test knitters and how many people like Vines even before I've published it. Hopefully, all my lovely test knitters will come back with great little garments by the end of the month, and then I'll be able to offer the pattern for sale.

I have some more projects in the pipeline but have also been busy knitting smaller things, like a Ripley for me in the delectable Lobster Pot Cashmere. I was kind of hoping to get a picture of me in it today outside during the snow, but a certain little person needed a nap, so I stayed behind (and worked and worked on a really interesting but challenging project). Ripley is a great little hat with a lace edge from Ysolda Teague's Whimsical Little Knits 2 (did you see how much that lovely creature raised for Haiti? to quote Rachel Zoe, "Uh-mazing"), which I bought last month in a fit of Help-Haiti-on-Ravelry-itis. Mary-Heather's Simple Things Shawlette and Snowbird by Heidi Kirrmaier also whizzed through the magical portal of PayPal into my Library.

I also knit up a little double-cowl for Isobel from half a skein or so of Malabrigo Lace in Intenso (luscious reds and pinks). She picked out the yarn from stash and has been pestering me to get it started (and then finished). I'm so glad I did because she just loves it. She's even worn it to bed and all day at school. Little cutie. I did a picot bindoff (not a picot hem, the little points), which would be lovely except the edge totally rolls and no one sees it, since the thing is just a jumble of Valentine-y goodness around her neck. I'll have to see if I can snap a picture of her in it. And I may need to make a single cowl for me, if I can figure out the best way to show off those picots. Hmmm.

So, now I'm working on something for my sister in some great Malabrigo Sock yarn acquired when I did a little hanging with the bloggers a couple of weeks ago. Ms. Babycocktails took the bus down from Beantown, and we met up with the Subway Knitter herself for a little Soho yarn crawl. It was so much fun to hang out with fellow knitters/designers.

Vines (call for volunteer test knitters)

I whipped this little tank/camisole/vest (which would you call it?) up after the NYC Yarn Crawl in the Fall with some lovely tosh dk (it was labelled tosh worsted when I bought it but they've changed it now that they've added a heavy worsted to the line; it's a light worsted weight yarn) from Downtown Yarns. I started to write up the pattern, then the Craft Fair and holidays were upon us, and benign neglect set in. Plus I was a little daunted by the notion of grading the pattern but didn't just want to offer it in one size. Now it's graded, and I'd love some test knitters to see if I did it right.

I think it's a great layering piece for now and into the Spring. Knit in a bright color, it will add a bit of pop to your wardrobe. In this Inky blue, it goes with all my clothes ;)

So, please send me an email (kathleendames at gmail dot com) if you'd like to volunteer to test knit Vines. I've knit up the medium, which took 270 yards (exactitude - I love my little kitchen scales!) and have graded the pattern from XS to XL - I'm looking to see if I've done this grading thing correctly and to verify my yarn amount guesses. The pattern is both written out and charted, the lace is simple to work and remember but lovely nonetheless, and it only took me five days to knit (of which at least a day was spent pondering how I wanted the top edge and straps to work out). Check out my project on Ravelry for more details.

Free Pattern Friday: Little Hearts

Time is running out for a little knitted love this Valentine's Day, so how about these Little Hearts? Just a little bit of worsted yarn can show someone you care. Plus, you'll get to practice your figure-eight cast-on. [Ravelry link]

Free Pattern Friday: Mom Tattoo

Valentine's Day is coming up fast. Why not show your first love just how much you love her with this little winged heart tattoo pillow? [Ravelry]

(NOT) Free Pattern Friday: Go Buy a Pattern for Haiti

As you may know I will be donating 50% of all pattern sales to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontiers at the end of January on Ravelry and on Etsy. You don't have to buy one of my patterns, but please consider buying a pattern (or ten) on Ravelry from one of the many designers who have pledged to donate to a relief organization. [Ravelry link]

We'll return to our erratic, regular Free Pattern Friday feature next week.

And I'm working on a post about the problems of knitting magazines in this day and age, but it's taking more time than I thought, and I now have freelance work to keep me busy (yay!), and so you'll have to wait. You'll survive, I imagine. Sorry and happy weekend!

Free Pattern Friday: February Lady Sweater

Have you knit this sweater already? If you have, be sure to add your comments to Flint Knits's post about the famous FLS. She's compiling people's notes and mods into one central repository for future reference, which is pretty cool. And if you haven't knit it, check out the comments and decide how you want yours. [Blog link / Ravelry link]

Patterns for Haiti

From now until January 31st I will donate 50% of all pattern sales to Doctors Without Borders/MSF to aid in Haitian relief efforts. You can find my patterns for sale at my Etsy store and on Ravelry, where a whole bunch of designers are also donating portions of their proceeds. Help Haiti and get to know some new-to-you designers' patterns (or buy the ones you've got in your queue).